Drones targeting UK military bases have become an increasingly frequent security concern, with 340 incidents recorded at or near Ministry of Defence sites in the year to August 2026, according to figures obtained through freedom of information laws.
The number represents a significant increase from the 250 incidents recorded in 2025 and more than double the 126 incidents documented in 2024. The figures have renewed concerns about the ability of Britain’s defence infrastructure to respond to hostile drone activity.
The Independent reported that the increase comes amid heightened tensions involving Russia and Iran, although the Ministry of Defence has not identified who was responsible for the incidents.
Drone Incidents Rise Across UK Defence Sites
The 340 incidents recorded in the 12 months to August include reports of drones operating at or near Ministry of Defence locations across Britain.
The rise has prompted renewed debate over the protection of military installations, particularly as European governments increase their focus on drone-related security threats.
Former Conservative defence minister and former Army captain Tobias Ellwood said the increase showed that British military facilities were being viewed as potential targets.
“Here in the UK we are doing nothing about protecting our critical national infrastructure, as well as military bases, and it’s such an easy way to disrupt,” Ellwood said.
He warned that while the drones detected so far may not have carried weapons, the technology could potentially be adapted to cause physical damage.
“At the moment these are just rogue drones, and they’re passive, but it’s not a huge step to then add a kinetic dimension to them to make them introduce lethality,” he said.
Concerns Over Russian and Iranian Involvement
The Ministry of Defence has not provided details identifying those suspected of operating the drones. However, security experts have pointed to several possible explanations, including criminal activity, hobbyists, terrorism and hostile state intelligence operations.
Ellwood said Russia and Iran were “100 per cent” responsible for many of the incidents, while acknowledging that criminal groups could also be involved.
“They are absolutely active in Britain in plotting, mapping, and then recruiting useful idiots to prosecute this targeting,” he said.
“It could be criminal gangs as well, but they would then be supported by Russia. Russia is by far the obvious culprit here… It’s not China’s style. They tend to do things in a different way.”
Those claims have not been confirmed by the Ministry of Defence.
Retired Brigadier Ben Barry, a former Nato commander and former director of the British Army Staff, said there were several possible explanations for the drone activity.
“What are the likely explanations for the drones? Well, it could be hobbyists, it could be criminals looking for stuff to steal, it could be hostile state intelligence services, it could also be terrorists doing reconnaissance,” Barry said.
He added that hostile activity attributed to Russia had increased in recent years, while also pointing to what he described as hostile activity by Iran in the UK.
Government Expands Counter-Drone Measures
The British government has defended its response, saying it is taking the threat from hostile drones seriously and has been increasing investment in counter-drone technology.
Minister for the Armed Forces Louise Sandher-Jones said the government was introducing additional measures designed to protect defence sites and give military personnel greater powers to respond to threatening drones.
“In February, we established new restricted airspace areas over 44 critical defence sites in the UK. This autumn, we will introduce restricted airspace areas over a further 160 sites,” she said.
She also said the Armed Forces Bill would provide additional authority for personnel to respond directly to drones threatening defence locations.
“By the end of the year, the Armed Forces Bill will become law, giving our personnel the power to take out drones – whether in the air, on the ground, or in the water – posing a threat to any defence site without the need for assistance from the police,” Sandher-Jones said.
According to the minister, the government has also substantially increased spending on counter-drone equipment.
“The government has quadrupled its spending on anti-drone kit since taking office, with the Defence Investment Plan investing £750m into counter-drone systems and protection for our armed forces, both at home and deployed overseas,” she said.
MoD Says Better Detection Contributed to Rise
The Ministry of Defence said the increase in recorded incidents should not necessarily be interpreted as evidence that hostile drone activity itself had risen by the same amount.
Officials attributed part of the increase to improvements in reporting procedures, better counter-drone detection technology and greater awareness among military personnel.
Ellwood rejected that explanation, arguing that the scale of the figures remained significant.
“To say [incidents] have gone up because people are getting better at reporting, that’s shocking. These numbers are huge, and it means that this has been going on a long time, and we’ve completely ignored it,” he said.
He also linked the potential increase in drone activity to Britain’s support for Ukraine and warned that Russia could seek to retaliate through forms of disruption.
He said Britain could expect “aggravated intrusion into our airspace increase over the next months and years”.
“Sadly, we won’t really react and find the money to move on the scale we need to,” he added.
Wider European Security Concerns
The concerns in Britain come as other European countries report growing worries about potential drone and missile threats.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that Moscow could be preparing hybrid attacks involving drones or missiles against Nato countries supporting Ukraine.
“There is a real risk that drones or other types of projectiles will enter the territory of one or several countries on the eastern flank and even cause destruction,” Tusk said.
The warnings have added to broader concerns about European preparedness and the ability of Nato members to protect their airspace and critical infrastructure.
UK Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Richard Knighton previously warned that Britain faced its highest level of threat from Russia since the Cold War.
Security Minister Angela Eagle has also highlighted concerns linked to Iran, saying Britain had identified activity involving the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that was connected to threats to life and intimidation on UK soil.
Experts Question Britain’s Preparedness
Charlie Edwards, a senior fellow for strategy and national security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said governments across Europe needed to communicate clearly about drone threats.
“I think it is increasingly important for governments, European governments overall, to be open about drones,” Edwards said.
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He noted that uncertainty remained about who was operating some of the drones detected across Europe.
“We are still in the dark as to who is operating those drones. We believe it was highly likely that Russia was running a campaign over Europe,” he said.
Edwards also pointed to wider questions about military preparedness.
“I think the House of Commons Defence Committee pretty well summed it up in terms of whether we are ready for war, and their answer was no,” he said.
The British government has nevertheless maintained that it is strengthening the country’s ability to counter hostile drone activity.
The measures include restricted airspace around defence facilities, new military powers and increased spending on counter-drone systems.
Barry said the spending was significant but warned that resources would have to cover both domestic military bases and British forces deployed overseas.
“Yes, the armed forces are spending a lot of money on counter-drone systems, but you have to remember that will be divided between protecting the armed forces when they’re deployed on overseas operations and protecting bases and units in the UK,” he said.
Barry also warned that funding would remain an important factor in Britain’s ability to fulfil its defence commitments.
“Unless the defence budget is rapidly increased, the government’s going to find it very difficult to meet the pledges it’s made.”
The Ministry of Defence and the Labour government were approached for further comment.
